"You'll never lead a normal life, but you can claim these benefits."
Those were the words I remember hearing after being diagnosed with adult-onset Tourette syndrome.
So on Tourette's Awareness Day, I want to reflect on that moment.
In the months leading up to that conversation, my whole life had been turned upside down.
I'd lost my job because of my tics.
I couldn't get hired anywhere.
My confidence was at rock bottom.
My mental health wasn't much better.
I hated my condition.
And if I'm honest, I hated myself too.
For a while, I came dangerously close to believing what I'd been told.
I wouldn't answer the door to deliveries. I stopped seeing friends. I barely left the house.
I could have spent the rest of my life hidden away, ticcing behind closed doors.
But I'm so glad I didn't listen.
This year's Tourette's Action campaign is
#NoChoice.
And it's true. We don't have a choice over our tics.
We don't have a choice over the words that sometimes come out of our mouths.
We don't have a choice over how Tourette's affects our lives.
But we do have a choice over what we believe about ourselves.
We can choose whether we let other people's limitations become our identity.
People with Tourette's are constantly told what they can expect, what their limitations are, and what their future will look like.
But none of that is set in stone.
I refused to accept that my story was already written.
Since that diagnosis, I've built a 6 figure business, adopted my son, appeared on TV, featured in magazines, attended movie premieres, renovated my dream home, spoken on stages, and raised awareness for Tourette's.
Not despite Tourette's. With Tourette's.
So if you've ever been told what you can or can't do because of a condition, disability, diagnosis, or label, remember this:
Someone else's prediction is not your future.
I can't wait to see what's next.
Happy Tourette's Awareness Day 💚
#TouretteSyndrome #TourettesAwarenessDay #NoChoice